Improvement in umbrellas



key. v p in Fig. l, K is the key-hole, and c is a I IMPROVEMENT lNUMBRELLAS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 108,077, dated October,1870.

To all whom it may concern.`

Be it known that `I, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS, v

of Frankfort, in thecounty of Franklin and State of Kentucky, haveinvented certain Iniumbrella with a catch for the ordinary lower i wirespring in un1brellahandles, and operat ing the same insuch a manner witha suitable key that it mayvbeturned under the upper end of such spring,so that it cannot be sprung down into the handle, as it is usually done,so that the runner to which the stretchers are attached can be passed upover it, and thus it will be locked, and the umbrella-top cannot beraised for luse without the key with which to unlock it. The object oflocking up an umbrella against promiscuous use is so obvious thatfurther .explanation is deemed unnecessary. i f

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a sectionof the handle, with a portion of the `wood cut away in ordeizto displaymore fully the operative partsl of the lock. Fig. 2 is an elevation of asimilar scction with the lower spring in front of the staff or handle,displaying the notch made by cutting away the wood to afford space forthe operation of the parts composing the lock. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of a section of the saine with the cap-plate which covers thelock in position, and with the runner upon the staff. These sections allshow the handle up and the top downward. Fig. 4 is an elevation rof thestraight tube inclosing the shaft d, by means of which theA catch E isturned. This tube serves as a guide for the key `and as a sleeve for theshaft.. p .llhevouter end of the shaft should be made square orthree-sided, so that the key, With a corresponding interior formationand embracing it, will not be turned upon it, but will turn it. Theshaft dshould extend through the catch E, in which it is made fast, andit reaches the inner surface of the plate P, and over that portion ofthe shalt which is between the catch and that plate is coiled a spiralspring, f, the use of which is to press the catch E with a certainamount of force against the wood ofthe handle D, so that it will notturn without the instrumentality ofthe key. The catch E is simply a flatmetal plate fixed upon the shaft, as before stated, and it should beoblong in form, so that when turned by the key across the handlethe-upper end of the spring B may be forced down into and up out of itsrecess in.

the handle without touching it; but when turned into a vertical positionthe lower end of it will be directly under the upper end of the springB, and will prevent that spring from being forced down so as to allowthe run` ner to pass over it and the umbrella tobe raised for use. Inorder to restrict the movements of this catch, one or more metalstudssuch as e inrFig. 2-niay be driven into the wood to prevent itsturning entirely around` The plate P.not only holds the spiral springfin position and protects the operative parts of the lock, but it alsoserves to strengthen the handle where the key-hole is bored, and whereit is cut away to afford space for the lock.

I claim as my invention- I The shaft d, catch E, sleeve c, spring j",and` plate P, pin e, and spring B, when constructed, arranged, andcombined as and for the purpose described. e

i ROBERT C. WILLIAMS, Witnesses:

THos. TANNER, GEO. H. EDWARDS.

